HE CANNOT HEAR

                                               HE CANNOT HEAR

               HE CANNOT HEAR

He sat on his porch and watched as a magnificent

Monarch butterfly moved effortlessly from one rose to another.

It moved almost without moving a wing.

The beautiful creature, drifting with the breeze.

It seemed to make absolutely no noise,

But the old man did not know that,

Because he could not hear.

He sat at a table in the fast food place,

Where everyone was bustling around.

The noise had to be almost a rumble,

But he would do anything to just hear it,

To hear it, even for a few minutes.

But it was completely silent for him,

For he could not hear.

He stood in line at the grocery store,

And he could tell by her face that the baby was crying.

The mother showed by her actions, she was upset.

The old man would have loved to hear that baby cry,

But he never would have that joy again.

For as most knew, He could not hear.

The older man sat in Church, and looked around.

He was there to partake of the Sacrament.

Of course to him there was complete silence.

He could see the Deacons  hustling back and forth,

Preparing the Sacrament for the congregation.

But for him there was complete silence.

However he could watch and see,

And he knew all that was happening.

But he could not hear.

He sat on the deck of his mountain cabin

And stared into the green forest and smiled.

He was almost positive the forest was quiet,

But he could not be absolutely sure because,

For many years as he got older,

He could not hear.

He and his sister sat at the stop light,

Waiting for it to turn green .

Just then two Harley’s pulled up to the light.

His sister looked at him and covered her ears,

And he just got a big smile on his face.

Oh how he would loved to hear that "unique" Harley sound.

But he could not and never would again for you see,

He could not hear.

His sister quickly pulled off the road,

And cars in front and back of her also pulled to the curb.

A fire engine with light flashing on both top and sides,

Sped by, in and out, and on up the road.

To the old man it all happened in silence,

Because for years he could not hear.

Over the years he had learned several things.

A playground with kids running was not quiet.

A couple of dogs running down the street,

   With their mouths opening and shutting were making noise.

A swimming pool full of youngsters, was really not as quiet

   As a spa in your back yard.

A group of strangers waving their hands in the air

   And making fists, were not doing it in silence.

But perhaps one of the most important things he had discovered was—when he knelt by his bed at night to say a prayer--- HE DID HEAR A VOICE, saying,” be patient Son, I am aware of you, and will be always with you. Be of good Cheer.”

W.R. Baldwin

20 December 2016